Federal and local law enforcement agents arrested eight men early Monday morning on charges related to drug trafficking and gun offenses. Arrests and indictments are part of an investigation into drug trafficking and violent crime that began in April 2012 and placed special emphasis on the Vantine neighborhood around Bessemer City.

Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, along with Gaston County and Bessemer City police took part in the sweep, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. A federal grand jury returned a 60-count criminal bill of indictment on Sept. 18. Part of that indictment was unsealed Monday.

Each of those arrested Monday face the potential of spending 10 or more years in prison and multi-million fines. Those arrested and charged are:

Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement have seized five handguns, two SKS rifles (one with ammunition and scope attached), U.S. currency, a vehicle, drugs and drug-making paraphernalia, according to the release. The eight defendants’ initial appearances were held Monday in U.S. District Court in Charlotte. Detention hearings have been scheduled for Thursday.

The remaining defendants charged in the indictment are considered fugitives. Their names will remain under seal until they have been apprehended by law enforcement. “Reducing violent crime across our district is a top priority for my office. Federal, state and local law enforcement partners are coordinating their efforts to identify communities plagued by rampant drug trafficking and to prosecute offenders who spread crime in our neighborhoods. Our mission is to make our streets safer and to protect our communities from drugs and violence,” said U.S. Attorney Tompkins in a release.